Flooded road in Dubai causing severe traffic jam. Source: AGBI (Reuters/Rula Rouhana)
Expanding Capacity with Traditional Approaches
In response to April’s unprecedented storm that inundated much of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has greenlit a massive AED30 billion ($8 billion) stormwater management upgrade. This extensive project, known as Tasreef, aims to enhance the emirate's drainage system, increasing its capacity sevenfold to manage over 20 million cubic meters of water per day, equivalent to emptying five and a half Olympic-sized swimming pools every minute.
The ambitious plan involves deploying the Middle East's largest and newest tunnel-boring machines to lay an intricate network of pipes, tunnels, pump stations, and sea outfalls. Additionally, surface infrastructure such as channels, culverts, and ponds will be incorporated to support efficient water management.
Street in Sharjah faced severe flooding. Source: AGBI (Alamy/Arnold Pinto)
Embracing Green Solutions and Innovations
Despite the project's significant scale and traditional engineering approach, experts emphasize the importance of integrating cost-effective, green solutions to mitigate flooding. Nariba Gittens from WSP highlights the potential of combining traditional below-ground infrastructure with surface channels and green infrastructure, which can offer sustainable and efficient flood management.
Hazem Gouda from the University of Wollongong in Dubai underscores the need for smart AI-based systems to integrate surface water, roads, and traffic management, maximizing the utility of the city’s master plan. These systems can enhance the responsiveness and adaptability of Dubai's infrastructure during extreme weather events.
Learning from Global Examples
Dubai can draw valuable lessons from global stormwater management projects. For instance, Singapore’s Active, Beautiful and Clean Waters programme and New York’s flood resilience efforts post-Hurricane Sandy provide models of effective urban water management. Conversely, Tokyo's experience with its expensive anti-flood tunneling system serves as a cautionary tale about the limitations of solely relying on hard infrastructure.
Experts like Peiman Kianmehr from the American University in Dubai advocate for creative solutions, such as using permeable surfaces and reserving land for temporary flood zones. These measures, although not complete solutions, can significantly alleviate the impact of heavy rainfall.
As Dubai embarks on this monumental project, integrating traditional engineering with innovative and green solutions will be crucial to building a resilient urban landscape capable of withstanding future climatic challenges.
Below a retrospective video showcasing the severe flooding, occurred on April 16th, 2024.
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